The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County celebrates the vibrancy and diversity of the arts and culture across the 15 towns in our region of coastal Fairfield County and each Tuesday issues our free E-Buzz newsletter with a selection of the hundreds of events posted to our website by our members.
As many of you will know, Juneteenth, June 19th, was just officially created as a federal holiday. Commemorating the end of slavery, "Juneteenth" goes back to June 19, 1865, when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger in Galveston, Texas, issued General Order No. 3, which announced that in accordance with the Emancipation Proclamation, “all slaves are free.” Months later, the 13th Amendment was ratified, abolishing slavery in the final four border states that had not been subjected to President Abraham Lincoln’s order.
Locally, Redding’s Mark Twain Library celebrated today on its lawn with a poetry reading and discussion led by Tom Kilbourn, ordained Episcopal priest and retired Joel Barlow High School English teacher. Celebrating in a more rousing fashion, in Bridgeport on Saturday, is the 29th annual Juneteenth Parade and Harambee Festival in Seaside Park. Live entertainment includes the Sage & City Shout Steelpan Orchestra, an African-inspired fashion show, children’s art projects, meet-the-author book signings, ethnic food trucks and much more.
Later on Saturday, Voices Café in Westport’s Unitarian Church is live streaming a benefit concert celebrating Juneteenth and raising funds for Bridgeport’s Mary and Eliza Freeman Center for History and Community. The concert features Goodnight Moonshine (learn more here) with Molly Venter, also of Red Molly, and Eben Pariser, who also performs with Roosevelt Dime.
See these and discover hundreds more events on our FC Buzz-Events page at here.